CALDWELL, Idaho – The Northwest Christian University volleyball team went into the JA Albertson Center on Friday night and accomplished something they never had before, winning not one but two sets on the road at The College of Idaho. Unfortunately, the first ever win in Caldwell was not to be as the Yotes came away with the five-set victory, 21-25, 25-18, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12.
 
The Beacons move to 0-12 all-time against the Yotes, who had swept the Beacons 3-0 in each previous contest between the schools in Idaho, dating back to 2007. NCU also moved to 0-5 on the season in five-set matches.
 
The Beacons erased an 18-15 deficit in Set 4, getting a pair of Megan Van Marter blocks late in the period, to force a winner-take-all final frame. In Set 5, six combined kills from Jackie van Vliet and Ashley Pagan gave the Yotes match-point at 14-9. However, a rotation error gave NCU a side out and consecutive C of I hitting errors pulled the visitors within 14-12, before Pagan buried her 52nd swing of the night to end the contest.
 
NCU controlled the first set, forcing eight C of I hitting errors with a big block presence, to grab the early match lead. The hosts answered, hitting .393 in the second set and .450 in the third to take the 2-1 lead.
 
Claire Salness led the Beacons (11-14, 4-12 CCC) with a double-double collecting 14 kills and 14 digs while Mary Grace Blaser had a two-fer of her own with 11 kills and 12 digs.
 
Claire Salness (pictured) led the Beacons with 14 kills and 14 digs, with Mary Grace Blaser recording 11 kills and 12 digs. Megan Van Marter and Natalie Downes collected ten kills each and combined for eight blocks as the Beacons out-blocked the Yotes, 9-7.
 
Makenna Northern led NCU with 23 assists while Kayla Olson posted team-highs with 20 digs and two aces.

For the Yotes (18-7, 13-4) Taylor Alexander had 16 kills and van Vliet added 14 in the victory but it was Pagan's night, hitting for 22 kills and a remarkable 31 digs. Marija Djonovic had 54 assists and Drew Dobney had a career-high 30 digs as well.
 
The final road trip of the season continues for NCU on Saturday, heading to La Grande to take on conference-leading Eastern Oregon Unviersity at 5:00 pm.